The Nigerian box office had a stellar year in 2024, driven by a blend of Nollywood’s homegrown successes and Hollywood blockbusters.
With a total revenue of N4.91 billion generated by the top 10 highest-grossing films, the industry has shown immense growth and resilience.
These standout titles, which captured audiences both locally and internationally, have set a new benchmark for the year.
As 2024 wraps up, the final figures are still being tallied, with projections hinting at a historic N12 billion finish for the year.
December alone contributed over N2.8 billion to the box office, showing the massive demand for quality cinematic experiences. As we await the final box office figures, let’s take a look at the top 10 highest-grossing films of 2024 and how they’ve reshaped the landscape of Nigerian cinema.
Ajosepo – N257.3 million
Ajosepo, a 2024 Nigerian film directed by Kayode Kasum, became a notable box office success. The movie, which revolves around two estranged brothers working together to save their father on the eve of a wedding, grossed N257.3 million after its theatrical run.
Premiering on April 10, 2024, in Nigerian cinemas, it garnered N79 million in its first week alone. Starring a talented cast including Realemisolade, Timini, and Mercy Aigbe, Ajosepo captivated audiences with its compelling story and strong performances, contributing to its impressive earnings and solidifying its place among the top films of 2024.
Mufasa: The Lion King – N309million
Mufasa: The Lion King was released in Nigerian cinemas on December 20, 2024, and distributed by FilmOneNG.
The prequel to the 2019 Lion King remake grossed N64 million during its opening weekend, becoming the highest-grossing Hollywood title for the weekend and the strongest live-action opening in Nigeria for 2024.
Despite mixed reviews from critics, the film received an “A-” CinemaScore from audiences. By the end of December 2024, Mufasa had grossed N309 million at the Nigerian box office and continues to perform strongly as it remains in cinemas into the new year.
Venom 3 – N317.8 million
Venom: The Last Dance (Venom 3) has become a major hit in Nigeria, grossing N317.8 million by 2024. Distributed by Filmoneng, the third installment in the Venom franchise earned N77.8 million during its opening weekend, marking it as the second-highest opening of 2024. The film’s thrilling action and dark humor captivated Nigerian audiences, solidifying its place as a blockbuster.
The movie’s success was driven by Nigeria, with additional ticket sales from Ghana and Liberia. It outperformed its predecessor, Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), which earned N71.9 million in its opening weekend.
Venom 3 continues to perform well in Nigerian cinemas, despite competition from other major releases. Its solid box office run shows the enduring popularity of superhero films in the country, reinforcing Hollywood’s significant impact on Nigeria’s growing cinema landscape. Venom 3 is now one of 2024’s highest-grossing films in Nigeria.
Queen Lateefah – N365.5 million
Queen Lateefah has made a remarkable impact at the Nigerian box office, grossing N365.5 million. The film has sold over 80,500 tickets since its release on September 27, 2024, and is now the seventh highest-grossing Nollywood movie to date. It stands as the top-earning release outside the lucrative December period, reflecting the growing demand for homegrown Nollywood stories.
The film’s journey to box office success has been marked by key milestones, including crossing N200 million within three weeks and reaching N256 million by mid-October. Queen Lateefah’s powerful storytelling and the unforgettable performance of its lead actress resonated deeply with Nigerian audiences, making it a standout in Nollywood’s competitive market. Cinemax Distribution played a key role in extending its reach, ensuring it became a box-office favorite.
Moana 2 – N366.7 million
Moana 2 has achieved significant success at the Nigerian box office, grossing N366.7 million, making it one of the top releases of the year.
Premiering on November 29, the animated Disney sequel quickly captivated audiences with its vibrant animation and family-friendly themes, crossing the N300 million milestone within four weeks of its release. The film earned an impressive N20.1 million over the weekend, bringing its total to N303.5 million by December 22, 2024.
In addition to a strong opening with advanced screenings generating N12.4 million, Moana 2’s performance was further boosted by a remarkable N106.4 million from its opening weekend.
Gladiator II – N398.2million
Gladiator II has made a remarkable impact on the Nigerian box office, grossing N398.2 million, a testament to its action-packed sequences and historical depth.
The sequel, directed by Ridley Scott, earned N99.1 million in its opening weekend, marking the second-highest debut of 2024. In the days leading up to its release, the film had strong advanced screenings, grossing N17 million in just two days.
The film’s captivating narrative, following Lucius (Paul Mescal), the nephew of Maximus, alongside a star-studded cast including Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Denzel Washington, helped maintain its momentum, grossing N82.05 million from Friday to Sunday in its opening weekend.
Bad Boys 4 – N458.1 million
Bad Boys 4 (Bad Boys: Ride or Die) has become a major success in Nigeria, grossing N458.1 million. The high-energy film, featuring the iconic duo Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, captivated audiences with its thrilling action and humor. The movie has now surpassed 88,000 admissions, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 2024 in Nigerian cinemas.
From its opening weekend in June, where it grossed N68.94 million, to its impressive N360 million earnings by mid-July, Bad Boys 4 has consistently outperformed expectations. It holds the distinction of being the first non-December film to cross the N400 million mark, a feat previously achieved by The Woman King and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022.
A Tribe Called Judah – N611.3 million
A Tribe Called Judah was produced in December 2023 and was officially released on December 15, 2023. The film had an incredibly successful run, grossing N400 million by the end of December. Its impressive performance continued into the new year, as it crossed the N1 billion mark by the end of January 2024. This rapid surge in ticket sales highlights the movie’s strong appeal, particularly with its compelling narrative and the star power behind it, making it one of Nollywood’s highest-grossing films of the year.
Despite facing a 55% drop in ticket sales between January 12-18, 2024, A Tribe Called Judah retained its position at the top of the box office chart for the fifth consecutive time, amassing N1.32 billion by mid-January.
Deadpool & Wolverine – N706.7 million
Deadpool & Wolverine has taken Nollywood cinemas by storm, grossing an impressive N706.7 million at the box office. This Marvel crossover event, which brings together two fan-favorite characters, Deadpool and Wolverine, delivered a thrilling cinematic experience with its high-energy action scenes and engaging storyline, appealing to audiences across Nigeria.
The film achieved a major milestone, becoming only the fifth movie to surpass N700 million in English-speaking West Africa. As of the latest figures, Deadpool & Wolverine has earned a total of N700,213,987 with more than 142,000 admissions. This places it among an elite group of films to reach such a significant financial benchmark at the Nigerian box office.
Everybody Loves Jenifa – N1.124 billion
Breaking all records, Everybody Loves Jenifa, directed by Funke Akindele, has become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2024, grossing an impressive N1.124 billion. The comedy-drama has charmed audiences with its hilarious yet heartwarming narrative, quickly rising to the top of the box office charts.
In just 19 days, the film surpassed the N1 billion milestone, achieving N1,034,091,220 by the end of December 2024, accounting for 40% of the December box office revenue. With 201,604 ticket admissions, it has set a new record as the fastest film to reach this revenue in the region, marking a significant achievement for Akindele as both the producer and director.